The UC Irvine School of Law's latest fundraiser wasn't a stuffy sit-down dinner. It was all fun and games with a cocktail hour, continuous buffet and a lively contest, Trivia Quest, at the Hilton in Costa Mesa.

The event benefits the school's Public Interest Law Foundation, an organization that supports students who work at such firms over the summer. "It gives them wonderful practical experience," Dean Erwin Chemerinsky said. "It's a chance to help people and causes that can't afford legal representation, and that's a very big part of helping our community."

The dean opted not to wear a tie as he usually does, while the students took the opposite tack, dressing to the nines in smart sport jackets, sleek cocktail dresses and heels, their hair red-carpet ready. It was prom night for budding legal eagles.

Attendees included alums as well. Jeffrey Wachs and Mohammed Elayan posed for photos with their friend from the class of 2012, Christopher Dalbey, who acted as MC and auctioneer. Dalbey reported on life since graduation. He's working with a bankruptcy judge in Las Vegas. "It's an easy place to live and the second-busiest bankruptcy court in the country," he said.

Faculty member Bob Solomon kept the audience entertained with quips between questions during Trivia Quest. Players from the ranks of students, alums and the local law firms buzzed in and tried their best. Solomon set them straight when they gave wrong answers. First Holy Roman emperor? Charlemagne. Only Apollo 11 astronaut not to walk on the moon? Michael Collins. Only animal you can legally shoot from a moving vehicle in California? A whale. What?!

When the dust settled, the AAA Automobile Club of Southern California team had won and the school had netted a little more than $40,000 to help students. Bonus? Getting faces out of those gigantic law books, the dean said. "In addition to being an important fundraiser, it's a great chance for us to get together and enjoy each other's company," he said.

Wine available in the silent auction at the UC Irvine School of Law's Public Interest Law Fund fundraising event. DREW A. KELLEY, FOR THE REGISTER
UCI Law professor Robert Solomon hosts the Community Trivia Quest portion of the UC Irvine School of Law's Public Interest Law Fund fundraising event. DREW A. KELLEY, FOR THE REGISTER
"Cambridge History of Law in America," available in the silent auction at the UC Irvine School of Law's Public Interest Law Fund fundraising event. DREW A. KELLEY, FOR THE REGISTER
The centerpiece at the UC Irvine School of Law's Public Interest Law Fund fundraising event. DREW A. KELLEY, FOR THE REGISTER
A basketball autographed by Russell Westbrook was available for bidding in the silent auction at the UC Irvine School of Law's Public Interest Law Fund fundraising event. DREW A. KELLEY, FOR THE REGISTER
UCI Law School Dean, Erwin Chemerinsky, and Elizabeth Schroeder, Assistant Dean of Student Services, attend the UC Irvine School of Law's Public Interest Law Fund fundraising event to enable UCI Law students to commit to summer positions at non-paying, full-time public interest firms. DREW A. KELLEY, FOR THE REGISTER
Dag Wilkinson and Caroline Beeson pose attend the UC Irvine School of Law's Public Interest Law Fund fundraising event. DREW A. KELLEY, FOR THE REGISTER
Lauren Kaplan and Jeffrey Wachs compete in the Community Trivia Quest during the UC Irvine School of Law's Public Interest Law Fund fundraising event. DREW A. KELLEY, FOR THE REGISTER
Tarik Hansen, Hannah Hyon, Traci Choi and Steven Kim, from left. pose for a photograph during the UC Irvine School of Law's Public Interest Law Fund fundraising event. DREW A. KELLEY, FOR THE REGISTER
UCI Law professor Jennifer Chacon competes in the Community Trivia Quest during the UC Irvine School of Law's Public Interest Law Fund fundraising event. DREW A. KELLEY, FOR THE REGISTER
UC Irvine law professor Catherine Fisk, alums Jeffrey Wachs, Christopher Dalbey and Mohammed Elayan with UCI Law School Dean, Erwin Chemerinsky, attend the UC Irvine School of Law's Public Interest Law Fund fundraising event. DREW A. KELLEY, FOR THE REGISTER
Law students Christine Robles, Vince Vuong and Coral Lopez, from left, attend the UC Irvine School of Law's Public Interest Law Fund fundraising event to enable UCI Law students to commit to summer positions at non-paying, full-time public interest firms. DREW A. KELLEY, FOR THE REGISTER
Law students Natida Sribmbhadh and Becca Maloney, from left, attend the UC Irvine School of Law's Public Interest Law Fund fundraising event. DREW A. KELLEY, FOR THE REGISTER
Law students Stefanie Wilson, Anna Bennett and Caitlin Emmons attend the UC Irvine School of Law's Public Interest Law Fund fundraising event to enable UCI Law students to commit to summer positions at non-paying, full-time public interest firms. DREW A. KELLEY, FOR THE REGISTER

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